Parking planned near Bricktown Canal to be less visible

A controversial plan to build exposed surface parking along the Bricktown Canal may not become a reality as developer Chris Johnson is preparing to change designs for property he owns on both sides of the waterway.

Chris Johnson, owner of USA Screen Printing, spent four months in 2011 debating his original plans with the Bricktown Urban Design Committee.

Those plans, which called for creation of parking lots on both sides of the canal just west of Mickey Mantle Drive were only narrowly approved after city attorneys advised the committee that it could not rule against the project over its designated use.

Johnson received a much warmer reception Wednesday as he advised the committee that he was planning to expand a 9,000-square-foot building so that it extended over the parking area along the east side of the waterway.

Johnson advised the remaining parking area will instead be used as a drop-off, with cars to be parked on a remote lot he recently bought along Reno Avenue.

Johnson also reported he had a major development deal fall through for the west side property, but he believes a significant project will still be built on what is considered one of the most valuable undeveloped spots along the canal.

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by Steve Lackmeyer

Business Reporter

Steve Lackmeyer is a reporter and columnist who started his career at The Oklahoman in 1990. Since then, he has won numerous awards for his coverage, which included the 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, the city's Metropolitan...